Soldiers Home 
     Chicago Ills Jan 5th 1865 
          Dear Wife 
I will write you a few lines 
to day to let you know where 
we are. We left Milwaukee this 
morning at 8 O,clock and got 
here at half past twelve and we 
expect to Start for Nashville 
at ten O'clock to night. all of  
Our Co is here Except four viz. 
John Kingston Peter Campbell 
Frank Harris and Wm Louchs – 
and I am afraid they will have 
Some trouble getting to the Reg't 
Will Cleary and Alvin Caulkins 
have got back Will and Mary 
was Married on the 10th of Dec ___ 
Will took him a homestead of 80  
acres in Iowa and also bought a 
piece of timber land. We have 
a hundred Recruits with us that 
are assigned to our Regt 
they are mostly Substitutes 
and Drafted men and we have 
to Keep them under Guard 
The weather is quite pleasent 
it is thawing considerable to day 
[crossed out word] I will Send you a Ring as a new 
Years present but I dont Know 
as it will fit you 
I will not write mutch to day 
Direct your next letter to  
Nashville 
  Give My Respects to  
Harriets folks and tell 
them to write 
     I Remain as usual yours 
Thos J Davis 
 
     Lucinda M Davis